Maj. Mahama Bill passed

Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul first laid the Bill on Tuesday, 24 October in fulfilment of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s promise that the state will cater for the spouse and children of the slain military officer who was lynched by a mob in Denkyira-Obuasi now New Oboase.

Mr Nitiwul who spoke on Thursday, 9 November, after the passage said: “It is not a special treatment”.

“It is a signal to the people of Ghana that when you die in service, the state will not leave you. It is a new beginning but already there are adequate provisions in the Ghana Armed Forces in such situations”.

Major Mahama was the commander of a military detachment stationed at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District of the Central Region to check the activities of illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers.

He was lynched on suspicion that he was an armed robber, after a group of residents from whom he asked for directions during a morning jogging session on May 29, spotted a pistol on him.

Government promised a Trust Fund to help the family of the deceased with a seed fund of GHS500,000, with President Akufo-Addo also pledging some GHS50,000 from his personal coffers to the bereaved family.